Rover at the Town hall?
Friday, July 23, 2010 Publié par Eric Tenin
This will probably remind my British visitors of something! I found these big plastic balls in front of the Hotel de Ville (town hall). They are actually targeted at kids who take great pleasure in moving them from the inside. I must say I was tempted too - but I'm way beyond the age limit! They are probably part of the Paris Plage program - which goes now much further than the river banks, but I could not find anything about them on the Web...
July 23, 2010 12:37:00 AM GMT+02:00
They remind me of a hamster in it's exercise ball. It looks like fun. Aww Eric, you should have tried them out.
July 23, 2010 1:33:00 AM GMT+02:00
Adorable shot -- children having fun. Beautiful sky too!
July 23, 2010 2:03:00 AM GMT+02:00
Oh my word!!! I so want to try that!! They look so fun. One of these days I'll have to do it somehow and somewhere.
Anyway, lovely shot and a lovely day, Eric! Hope you enjoyed it!
July 23, 2010 2:06:00 AM GMT+02:00
Wonderful photograph. Full of action and oh, so tempting!
July 23, 2010 2:17:00 AM GMT+02:00
Red Alert! Red Alert! Here's a Prisoner fan from the US. What a fun show that was. And it looks like these kids are having a lot of fun as well. This IS tempting, but my middle-aged joints probably wouldn't thank me for it.
July 23, 2010 3:28:00 AM GMT+02:00
I was sure at first that somehow we were being transported to Portmeirion, as you pointed out. Hmm. If Patrick McGoohan was “Number 6” I hope none of the three balls captured any “Number 2s”.
For those children between the ages of 8 and 16 (drat! I was hoping it could have been 8 X 16), they can experience “the state of hamsters” from Sunday to Thursday between 1:00 and 7:00 PM, as seen under (not Rovers, although they are) but (surprise!) under SPHERES here.
July 23, 2010 3:30:00 AM GMT+02:00
Yes, The Prisoner! A show I watched dubbed into French, when I lived in Paris. This, however, looks like so much fun! I really wish you could do it, Eric, and then describe what it's like. (And there's that famous perspective, AND an amazing sky!)
July 23, 2010 3:33:00 AM GMT+02:00
The Prisoner was surrealist television. "Secret Agent" was better, but my brother and I used to laugh at The Prisoner, as it was so disconnected and, often, made no sense. Quite fun.
And, yes, every time I see a big ball like that, I remember the show. I'm a Yank, too!
July 23, 2010 5:05:00 AM GMT+02:00
I think the Hotel de Ville has the most wonderful sights in Paris. Always changing. Always delightful!!
V
July 23, 2010 5:13:00 AM GMT+02:00
There is a thing you can go zorbing with here.
Also, there’s no real age limit on the monowheel, adults could give it a whirl; except there is one little occupational hazard with the monowheel.
Yeah, Jeff. Patrick McGoohan and Johnny Rivers.
July 23, 2010 5:29:00 AM GMT+02:00
Eric, that video link is very creepy!
but funny too. I can't wait to share it with my son, thank you!
Your photo is wonderful btw - looks like the kids are having a great time. I'd love to try it myself as well.
July 23, 2010 7:17:00 AM GMT+02:00
I thought of "the Prisoner" too when I first saw this. Also, at first glance, the kids look like they are suspended in ice balls.
But it looks like fun to try.
July 23, 2010 10:10:00 AM GMT+02:00
Perfect timing for this shot, Eric, as The Prisoner is back on French TV as from tonight ;-). On Arte channel, as part of their "summer of the 60's" program...
July 23, 2010 10:12:00 AM GMT+02:00
@Thib Really? I did not know that!! (I swear!)
July 23, 2010 3:55:00 PM GMT+02:00
How could there be an age limit on having fun in those things??? Too bad they were being such sticklers, because I bet you would've had a ball!! (sorry, couldn't resist:))
July 23, 2010 4:57:00 PM GMT+02:00
Although I loved the Prisoner, it wasn't my first thought. My first thought was "How do they breathe in those things?"
July 23, 2010 4:57:00 PM GMT+02:00
I think those are Zorbs! http://www.zorb.com/home1
We saw them in New Zealand years ago.
July 23, 2010 5:35:00 PM GMT+02:00
It has recently come to light that a number of people who have mysteriously disappeared over the last few years have a common link.
Previously, none of these missing persons seemed to have anything in common, but undercover investigators have now discovered that at some time in the past they have all posted comments on a photo blog which has become something of a cult to its followers.
Further investigations have revealed that they had all stopped posting comments prior to their disappearance.
In an even stranger twist, some have suddenly reappeared months or even years later and started to post comments again.
One insider, who preferred to remain Anonymous, has held secret meetings with reporters and has claimed to have been "abducted and re-programmed".
"Several months of my life are a complete blank," she sobbed, "I have very little recollection, only a sense of being in a pleasant dreamlike place, but accompanied by a feeling of being trapped - a Prisoner in fact."
She continued, "Now every time a photo is posted on the blog, I have a compulsion to post a complimentary comment, but only when my comment number comes up. I am not a number!"
Speaking from his white spherical luxury penthouse in Paris, the owner of the blog who cannot be named for legal reasons, laughed off these astonishing allegations thus, "Most of my followers are very nice sane people, but some are frankly rather weird with, how shall I say, -rather vivid imaginations LOOOOL!"
July 23, 2010 6:53:00 PM GMT+02:00
Ok Number 18, I'm pretty sure I know who you are and it's your turn.
Love this Eric...and I think anybody could enjoy it. But wasn't sure what you meant by the big plastic balls would remind the British visitors of something. They could be offended don't you think? ;-)
July 23, 2010 6:54:00 PM GMT+02:00
Oh yes!! Love the Prisoner. It was on again recently and I really wanted to watch it but it was on at an awkward time for me & missed most of it! What a great series.
And, far be it from me to challenge the fun one can have with balls ;) this practise is not for me. I would be dizzy for weeks...
July 23, 2010 6:56:00 PM GMT+02:00
Oooh Thib, I wonder if I can get that? Which channel?
July 23, 2010 7:13:00 PM GMT+02:00
Notice how Lynn just happened to show up?
July 23, 2010 7:25:00 PM GMT+02:00
I was thinking the same thing, Michael. Lynn disappears for ages, and just when I'm wishing she would show up and grab the bull by the horns, so to speak--make the comment I am of course too delicate to make--there she is!
July 23, 2010 7:43:00 PM GMT+02:00
No, they can't have an age limit!!!
July 23, 2010 7:50:00 PM GMT+02:00
And I'm pretty sure that Number 18's wit could be associated with this sudden appearance...but not sure.
July 23, 2010 8:21:00 PM GMT+02:00
@Gramma Ann. "Aww Eric, you should have tried them out." I don't think they would have allowed me.
@Ann "but my middle-aged joints probably wouldn't thank me for it." Tell me about it!
@Alexa "Yes, The Prisoner! A show I watched dubbed into French" I did too from time to time as television was banned in my family when this was on!! I never found out if he manages to escape at the end of the show... (We did not call them "seasons" at that time!)
@Jeff "I used to laugh at The Prisoner, as it was so disconnected and, often, made no sense" It's a British show, look no further LOL!
@Number 18 LOOOOOOOOOOL
@Michael Nahhh. No risk! ;-)
Lynn is too busy twittering these days LOL!
July 24, 2010 1:23:00 AM GMT+02:00
Aww Eric...never too busy for you!
How intriguing that several of you seem to think I wear the no. 18 t shirt. I'm afraid I do not, tis not me :)
July 26, 2010 6:31:00 AM GMT+02:00
There is an age limit? Aww... that's too bad. How disappointing.